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Date: 8/23/2022
NORTHAMPTON – After a meticulous three-hour discussion, the Northampton School Committee officially approved a tentative mask policy to start the school year, with the caveat that the committee will revisit the policy during their Sept. 8 meeting to discuss any changes.
On Aug. 15, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools across the state. According to the guidance, Massachusetts public health and education officials are not recommending mask mandates, broad-sweeping testing, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools this coming fall.
The School Committee decided to only require masks in schools when the Hampshire County level of COVID-19 transmission and hospitalization is at a “high” level. When the transmission and hospitalization rates move to “medium” level, however, a communication will go out to the school community to encourage masks. Universal masking will also go into place if the superintendent determines that the school data indicates increased transmission and student and staff absenteeism will have a negative impact on student learning.
A universal mask mandate will be rescinded when Hampshire County transmission and hospitalization levels subside to “low” for two weeks.
A universal mask mandate could also be rescinded when the School Committee, after considering recommendations from their COVID-19 ad hoc committee, the superintendent data, or other information from the Superintendent Health Advisory Committee, determines that student and staff absenteeism caused by increased COVID-19 transmission will no longer have an impact on student learning.
“I’m comfortable with [the masking language],” said Ward 6 committee member Margaret Miller. “I think the number of mitigation things that we have listed are pretty good because I think our vaccination rates in Northampton have been high; and that’s the most important thing to me.”
The committee voted 7-3 in favor of this policy, with Ward 1 member Meg Robbins, Ward 4 member Michael Stein, and Ward 3 member Emily Serafy-Cox being the three who disagreed with the updated policy.
“I’m concerned that this isn’t actually bringing us the clarity we need,” said Stein. “I don’t feel like we’re getting close to this automatic switch that the committee wanted.”
When universal masking is in place, members of the school community are required to mask in school buildings, school transportation, and other indoor school-related events, like field trips. Universal masking does not apply during approved mask breaks, while eating and drinking, during outdoor sports, outdoor learning, outdoor recess or sleeping.
There is currently no mask mandate in place in the city’s schools after it was lifted at the end of the last school year. According to Lisa Safron, the school district’s health services director, masking will still be required in health offices based on the state’s Department of Public Health guidance but optional in all other parts of the school building, for now. Children and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least five days and wear a high-quality mask for 10 days unless they receive a negative test after day five. They may, also return to programming after day five if they are asymptomatic or “symptoms are resolving, and they have been fever-free without the use of a fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours.”
According to the district’s mask policy, classroom students must wear a mask for five days after exposure, though this mandate will be under review by the COVID-19 ad hoc committee and will be updated at a future meeting.
Additionally, Safron said that symptomatic testing will remain in place for individuals who present COVID-19 symptoms during the school day. Data tracking will also continue to start the school year in collaboration with school nurses.
At the time of the meeting, 90 percent of students in grades 6-12 have acquired one or more dose of the vaccine, while 80 percent of grades K-5 students have received one or more doses. According to the updated mask policy, being fully vaccinated means also being boosted.
Also included in the updated mask policy is a line that states the district will “continue to mitigate COVID[-19] risks for children and families through a multi-layered approach that includes vaccination, enhanced ventilation, air filtration, wastewater testing, symptomatic testing and responsible monitoring of symptoms.”